Mens Basketball Freezes Up Against Alaska Anchorage Losing 78-60 in First Round of the Glacier Classic

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (men’s basketball) – In a climate were staying warm and heating up is common in the winter months of Alaska, the Florida Tech Panthers
couldn’t stay warm against the Seawolves of Alaska Anchorage University in the first round of the Glacier Classic, losing 78-60.

The opening minutes of the game saw the Seawolves jumping out to an early 6-2 lead but the Panthers rallied back within two at 8-6. As soon as the Panthers
started to warm up, the Seawolves managed to run to a 12 point lead with 8:23 left on the clock. After a Tech timeout, the Panthers clawed their way back
with defense and patience on offense. Over the last eight minutes of the half, Tech chipped away the twelve point lead and got within three 37-34 off a
made 3 pointer by E.J. Murray (Rockledge, Fla.) with seventeen seconds left on the clock. The score at the half ended at 37-34 with momentum swaying back
to the Panthers side.

Trailing only by three at halftime, the Panthers couldn’t gain back the momentum that the team had at the end of the half as the crimson and grey allowed
Anchorage to gain a 20 point lead half way through the second half. Rallying back, the Panthers fought within 10 points at 61-51 but couldn’t overcome the
hot shooting of the Seawolves; defeating the Panthers 78-60 for their sixth loss on the season.

With only two Panther players having the majority of the scoring, Tech saw an opportunity slip away from their grasp. Carl McNally (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) led
the crimson and grey hoopsters with 20 points; McNally also led the team with 5 steals on the night. E.J. Murray also had a good night with 15 points in 39
minutes of play. Janko Mrksic (Stoney, Creek, and Ontario) recorded 8 points and 5 rebounds while Ryan Ballard (Melbourne, Fla.) came off the bench scoring
6 points for the Panthers.

The Panthers (2-6) face the host team Alaska Fairbanks University tomorrow night, Saturday, December 10th at 7pm.

Newspaper Box Score
Florida Tech vs Alaska Anchorage
12/08/06 5:00 P.M. at Glacier Classic Game # 1
At Glacier Classic Game # 1
ALASKA ANCHORAGE 78, FLORIDA TECH 60
FLORIDA TECH (2-6, 0-1 SSC)
McNALLY, Carl 7-12 6-11 20; MURRAY, EJ 6-9 0-0 15; MRKSIC, Janko 3-7 2-2 8;
BALLARD, Ryan 1-4 4-6 6; SEDLAK, Justin 2-6 1-3 5; RICHARDSON, Arthur 0-1
2-2 2; HILL, Matt 1-2 0-0 2; KELLEY, Jod 1-8 0-0 2; PAROTTE, Edmond 0-0 0-0
0; WOODSON, Donovan 0-0 0-0 0; ZELLER, Sean 0-0 0-0 0; SALLS, Joe 0-0 0-0 0;
AGEE, Markus-Alan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-49 15-24 60.
ALASKA ANCHORAGE (6-2, 0-0 GNAC)
Olsen,McCade 12-17 1-2 27; Arts,Carl 6-9 0-0 14; Bailey,Buddy 3-7 5-5 13;
Draper,Eric 1-3 2-2 5; Platenik,Ivan 2-6 1-2 5; McFarland,Allen 2-3 0-0 5;
Millar,Trenton 1-2 0-0 3; Spencer,Clayton 1-2 0-0 2; Mitchell,Steve 1-1 0-0
2; Cooper,Luke 0-2 2-2 2; Burney,Cameron 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-52 11-13 78.
Florida Tech……………… 34 26 – 60
Alaska Anchorage………….. 37 41 – 78
3-point goals–Florida Tech 3-11 (MURRAY, EJ 3-5; BALLARD, Ryan 0-2; SEDLAK,
Justin 0-1; KELLEY, Jod 0-1; McNALLY, Carl 0-2), Alaska Anchorage 9-16
(Bailey,Buddy 2-4; Arts,Carl 2-2; Olsen,McCade 2-3; Draper,Eric 1-2;
McFarland,Allen 1-2; Millar,Trenton 1-2; Cooper,Luke 0-1). Fouled
out–Florida Tech-MRKSIC, Janko, Alaska Anchorage-None. Rebounds–Florida
Tech 29 (MRKSIC, Janko 6), Alaska Anchorage 28 (Olsen,McCade 9).
Assists–Florida Tech 8 (MURRAY, EJ 3), Alaska Anchorage 25 (Cooper,Luke
10). Total fouls–Florida Tech 21, Alaska Anchorage 22. Technical
fouls–Florida Tech-None, Alaska Anchorage-None.